Domo Branch combo at Unity Festival
I attended the Unity Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 10 and 11, 2025. Its headlines for me were Rachel and Vilray, and Tatiana Eva-Marie and the Avalon Jazz Band. But there were a bunch of folks I didn't know, and I was ready for surprises. Wow, Domo Branch and his quintet was beyond surprising. They were the single best thing I saw all weekend!
Domo Branch himself was awesome on the drums. And then he got even better. (I am delighted to see him on the gig with Catherine Russell at Birdland next week with a band of heavy hitters!)
Vocalist Imani Rousselle had it all. And gave it 100%.
Abdias Armenteros played the sax like an old soul. They said he was the youngest-ever regular member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Dabin Ryu, Domo's piano player, was like she'd been hanging out in jazz clubs since she was three. The perfect fill, the right solo, all there at exactly the right time.
Felix Molsehome, the bass player in Domo's band, was also as good as they come. Great timing, nice solo, essential and present.